Question 1

On which statement about cultural differences could the nurse rely when implementing patient care?

Accepted Answer

Averting the eyes is a sign of respect when an Asian American is talking to a person of perceived higher status. African American patients convey respect by making and maintaining eye contact. Loud voices are the norm among African Americans talking with family or friends. Native Americans consider making eye contact a sign of disrespect. Touch is common among Mexican American members of the same sex, and personal space is close.

Question 2

To communicate interest and caring to a patient of the majority culture, the nurse should

Accepted Answer

Making eye contact is a means of conveying interest to patients of the majority culture. Encouraging and supporting communication is also a means of conveying interest. Calling the patient on days off is unnecessary. Keeping conversation on a social level is not therapeutic. Directing the patient to make a list of all problems might not be necessary or appropriate.

Question 3

A patient who has had knee surgery tells the nursing student that he is "doing fine" and "doesn't need anything." The student observes that he winces when moving in bed and that he has a worried frown. The student asks him to rate his pain on a numerical scale and then encourages him to take his prn analgesic. Which is true of this interaction?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of incongruence between verbal and nonverbal communication, requiring further investigation. Verbal messages do not outrank nonverbal messages in importance, and affective communication is not of lesser importance. Two-way communication is being used in the scenario, not one-way communication.

Question 4

Two-way communication differs from one-way communication, because with one-way communication

Accepted Answer

It is True that in one-way communication, the sender does not expect the receiver to provide feedback. The impact of one-way communication is not always positive. The receiver of one-way communication does not contribute to the interaction. Body language may affect the receiver.

Question 5

A patient states, "I don't seem to be getting my strength back." The nurse replies, "Don't worry. You are coming along just fine." This response is an example of

Accepted Answer

False reassurance involves telling the patient that there is nothing to worry about when that may or may not be True. Probing means pushing for more information. Disagreeing conveys disapproval of the patient's verbalization. Active listening is a therapeutic strategy.

Question 6

The nurse demonstrates commitment to the patient by

Accepted Answer

Commitment involves performing at an optimal level to meet the patient's needs. Delivering nursing care skillfully is the only appropriate behavior listed.

Question 7

Which option provides information that allows an individual to identify the patient's affective state?

Accepted Answer

Affective communication is assessed by observing mood and emotions. Option B provides information on the patient's affective state. The patient verbalizing that he is in pain and describing it is an example of verbal behaviors. Body language, such as lying still with the eyes closed, the arms held rigidly at the side of the body, and the fists clenched better describes nonverbal communication than affective state. A patient listening to directions and then asking relevant questions describes verbal communication.

Question 8

A patient states, "I'm really turned off when the doctor hurries out of here." The nurse responds, "You're feeling upset with your doctor because he doesn't spend enough time with you." This interaction demonstrates

Accepted Answer

Reflecting involves putting into words the information received from the patient at an affective communication level. The example given does not relate to definitions of the other communication strategies.

Question 9

The nurse enters a patient's room and asks, "How are things today?" The nurse has used

Accepted Answer

An open-ended question permits the patient to answer in whatever way is most meaningful. It is sometimes called a broad opening. The remaining options are incorrect, because focused questions permit only specific and narrow answers; probing suggests that the nurse is probing or digging for information; and paraphrasing allows the nurse to say in his or her own words the message conveyed by the patient.

Question 10

A nurse tells a patient, "There you are with varicose veins, sitting with your legs crossed at the knee. How often have we told you not to do that?" This communication demonstrates

Accepted Answer

Chiding is scolding. The intent of the communication is not to give advice but to chastise the patient for noncompliance. Probing is pushing for additional information. The question at the end of the scolding is rhetorical and does not ask for actual information.

Question 11

Which statement is true regarding open-ended, closed-ended, and focused questions?

Accepted Answer

Closed-ended and focused questions require the patient to give an answer that is narrower in scope than the answers possible for open-ended questions. Open-ended questions do not necessarily always achieve their purpose. Closed-ended questions may be useful with persons of any age. Focused questions are equally useful for men and women.

Question 12

The patient states, "My pain is awful!" The response that illustrates the use of focusing is:

Accepted Answer

Focusing, or asking focused questions, prompts the patient to provide more definitive information. Asking a patient to rate his or her pain on a scale of 1 to 10 exemplifies this definition.

Question 13

A patient asks a practical/vocational nursing student the following questions. To which option should the nurse respond, "I don't know the answer to your question, but I'll find someone who will discuss it with you"?

Accepted Answer

Questions about prognosis and impending death are the responsibility of the physician or, in some cases, the advanced practice nurse. The LPN/LVN should know in advance what can be discussed with the patient and be prepared to refer the person to a more knowledgeable practitioner. The other options are examples in which the LPN/LVN is capable of giving answers.

Question 14

A trusting relationship with a patient can be fostered by

Accepted Answer

Trust begins by gaining the patient's confidence through introducing oneself and stating one's role. Identifying the patient by room number depersonalizes the patient. Seeing the patient every 5 to 7 minutes would be excessive in most situations. Making up answers when one does not know the answer is dishonest.

Question 15

The patient asks, "What is an IVAC thermometer?" The nurse replies, "It is a heat-sensitive probe inserted into the sublingual area or rectal orifice. Heat transmission proceeds via an electrical system to a control center that interprets the temperature and displays it." This reply can be analyzed as

Accepted Answer

This explanation is unnecessarily scientific and uses nursing jargon when a simple answer would suffice. The communication described is two-way. Active listening involves responding therapeutically rather than in a confusing manner. The nurse's response displays insensitivity.

Question 16

On which statement about life span communication differences can the nurse rely when implementing patient care?

Accepted Answer

Elderly people lose the ability to hear high-frequency sounds but are often able to hear lower frequency sounds. Using a low voice register will be more helpful than pitching the voice in the higher registers. Children from birth to age 2 are soothed by low-pitched voices. Preschool children have immature reasoning skills. Use of slang with teenagers is ill-advised, because meanings change with great speed.

Question 17

Characteristics of one-way communication include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Always having negative value is not a characteristic of one-way communication, because one-way communication may have either positive or negative value. The remaining options are characteristics of one-way communication.

Question 18

A patient states, "This is my fourth miscarriage." A response by the nurse that demonstrates active listening would be

Accepted Answer

Reflection is a strategy that is useful in active listening. The statement, "Having another miscarriage must be hard to accept" is an example of reflection, or putting into words the affective communication received from the patient. The statements, "This is nature's way. You can be glad it happened" and "How lucky to have lost the baby so early in your pregnancy" are insensitive and do not suggest active listening. The statement, "I've had two miscarriages, so I know how you must feel" is nurse centered, and therefore not an example of active listening.

Question 19

A patient is crying. The nurse can correctly conclude from this type of nonverbal communication that the

Accepted Answer

The reason for the patient's crying cannot be determined on the basis of the data supplied. The patient could be sad, happy, or in pain. The situation needs clarification.

Question 20

The nurse who demonstrates empathy

Accepted Answer

Empathy is the ability to understand and appreciate what someone else is feeling without actually experiencing the emotion itself. This permits the nurse to remain objective. Feeling sorry for the patient's situation suggests sympathy rather than empathy. Understanding the patient's thoughts but being unaware of his or her feelings and emotions speaks of a nurse who lacks awareness of others' emotions. Attempts to remove physical and emotional pain and fix all of the patient's problems suggests overinvolvement.

Quiz 13: Straightforward Communication: Instructors, Coworkers, and Patients